Kruger left last Friday’s game with an upper-body injury and will miss the Winter Classic and at least the next two weeks. Kruger has 10 points (2G / 8A) in 39 games this season and is expected to be replaced by Tanner Kero this afternoon.
Hossa was expected to be in the lineup for the Winter Classic, but will end up missing his fifth straight game with an upper-body injury. Hossa is day-to-day and is questionable for Thursday’s game vs. the Sabres.
Montoya, 31, has gone 4-4-2 with a 2.74 GAA and .909 SV% in his first season with the Canadiens. This signing probably has less to do with signing Montoya than it does with having a goalie to expose to the expansion draft this summer. For the rest of this season, Montoya will be one of the better spot-start options behind a strong Canadiens team.
Schneider allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Devils’ loss to the Penguins on December 27th. Keith Kinkaid started the last two games, but Schneider will get back in goal tonight vs. the Bruins. Schneider really struggled in December, going 2-6-2 with a 3.48 GAA and .887 SV% in 10 starts last month. He allowed two goals on 36 shots in a 2-1 loss in his first game vs. Boston.
Crawford allowed two goals on 38 shots in the Blackhawks winning Nashville last Thursday. Scott Darling started on Friday, but Crawford is expected to get the nod outdoors this afternoon. He has posted a 2.38 GAA and .934 SV% in three starts since returning to the crease. He is also 1-1-0 with a 2.03 GAA and .933 SV% in his first two starts vs. the Blues this season.
Allen was pulled after he allowed three goals on 14 shots in the Blues’ 4-0 loss to the Predators last Friday. Allen has struggled as of late, losing five of his last seven starts while allowing a 3.56 GAA and .886 SV%. Tonight will be his fourth start vs. the Blackhawks—he has gone 1-1-1 with a 3.02 GAA and.893 SV% in the first three meetings.
Vatanen has missed the last three games with an illness, but will be back in the lineup tonight vs. the Flyers. Vatanen has two goals and 13 assists (15 points) in 35 games this season.
Theodore has been a healthy scratch in three of the last six games and with Brandon Montour up and playing well, Theodore will return to San Diego to get more playing time.
Leier appeared in the last eight games with the Flyers and has one goal and one assist in 10 games with Philadelphia this season. With Matt Read back in the lineup tonight, Leier will return to the AHL.
Read has missed the last 11 games with an upper-body injury, but will return to the lineup tonight in Anaheim. Read has six goals and four assists (10 points) in 27 games this season. His return means that Taylor Leier will be returning to Lehigh Valley (AHL).
Subban will miss Tuesday’s meeting with his former team, but is expected to address the media that day, likely to talk about his injury. Subban will miss the next few weeks, which means Ryan Ellis will continue to play a huge role on the Predators’ blueline.
